Centrifugally controlled planetary gearing



Jan. 4, 1949. H. E. KoRuM CENTRGALLY CONTROLLED PLANETARY GEARING FiledSept, 9, 1944 FIG. I

IN1/'ENT 0R. i HENRY E. KORUM TToRNEYs WITNESS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 'JalL 4,H, KORUM CENTRIFUGALLY GONTRQLLED PLANETARY emma v Filed sept. 9,.1'.=:44y 2 sheets-snee*u a INVENTOR.v HENRY E. KORUM i ATTORNEYSWITNESS f ,ai @mw Patented Jan. 4, 1949 CENTRIFUGALLY CONTROLLED PLANETARY GEARIN G Henry E. Korum, East Moline, Ill., assignor to Deere &Company, Moline, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application September9, 1944, Serial No. 553,434

7 Claims. l

The present 4invention relatesV generally to centrifugal clutchmechanisms of the type employed for connecting a driven member to adriving member after the latter has attained its normal operating speed,and also for disconnecting the driven member in case the speed of thedriving member decreases below a predetermined amount. The type ofmechanism is particularly useful for transmitting power to feedingmechanisms in crop treating machines such as, for example, hammer mills,corn shellers, or threshers, in which it is advantageous to bring thecrop disintegrating rotor up to substantialy full speed before any cropis fed into it, and also to interrupt the operation `of the feedingmechanism after the machine has been disconnected from its source ofpower but before the cylinder or rotor comes to rest. This allows therotor to clear itself and thus facilitates the succeeding startingoperation by preventing the feeder from clogging the cylinder withmaterial after the speed of the latter has decreased until it isinsufiicient to disintegrate the material. Other applications of adevice of this kind are, of course, well known to those skilled in theart. The prin'- cipal object of the present invention relates to theprovision of a novel and improved centrifugal clutch mechanism which ismore accurate and more sensitive and therefore operates to engage anddsengage more consistentlyat the values predetermined by theadjustments, than do centrifugal clutches heretofore known to thoseskilled in the art.

A further object of my invention relates to ther provision of a controlmechanism of the class described, having quickmake and quick breakcharacteristics which act positively and provideV a reasonable spread inspeed between the engagement and disengagement ofthe power trans'-mitting elements.

These and other' lobjects and advantages of my invention will beapparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of thefollowing description in which reference is had to the drawings appendedhereto, in which Figure 1 is an elevational view of avcontrol mechanismembodying the principles of the present invention and taken in sectionalong a line I-l in Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation vtaken along a line 2--2 in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevational view drawn to an enlarged scaleand showing .the position of the interengageable elements of themechanisrn at the instant the contact is made in starting the drivenmember.

Figure 4 is an enlarged scale partial elevational View similar to Figure3, showing the positions of the parts during normal driving conditions.

Referring now to the drawings, the power transmitting mechanism includesa driving member in the form of a V-belt pulley 5, a driven member inthe form of a shaft 6, and a clutch mechanism connecting the driving anddriven members, indicated in its entirety by reference numeral l. Thedriven shaft 6 is journaled in a bearing 8, which is supported on a sidewall 9 of the body of the machine and extends through the wall 9 todrive the feeder or other mechanism (not shown), the speed of which isto be controlled. The driving pulley 5 comprises a circular disk onwhich is mounted a peripherally extending sheave portion I0 adapted toreceive a V-belt II. The disk of the pulley is xedly supported on a hubI2 which is journaled at the end of the shaft 6 and has a radiallyextending flange portion I3, to which the web or disk of the pulley 5 isconnected by means of bolts I4. The pulley hub I2 is lubricated througha lubricating fitting I5 providing for free rotation on the shaft 6 andis held on the latter by a collar I6 which is fixed' to the shaft 6 bymeans of a set screw I1.

The pulley 5 drives the shaft 6 through a flyball governor arm 20, whichis pivotally connected to the ange I3 by means of a suitable bolt I9,and has a curved extension carrying a yball or weight 2l, the latterbeing adjustable along the curved portion of the arm 20 and can be fixedin adjusted position by means of a set screw 22. During rotation of thepulley 5 the iiyball 2| tends to be forced outwardly away from thecenter of rotation by the action of centrifugal force, the centrifugalaction of the arm being opposed by means of a tension spring 25. Thespring 25 is hooked into one of a number of spaced holes26 in a leverarm 2l which is pivotaly connected by a bolt 28 to an ear 29 formedintegrally with the pulley hub flange I3. A link 30 is pivoted by meansof a bolt 3| to the end of the arm 27 and is connected at its oppositeend to the flyball arm 20`by means of a bolt 32 which can be adjustablyinserted into any of a number of spaced holes 33 in the arm 20. Thespring 25 reacts against a bolt 34 which extends through the flange 35of an anchor block 36 and is adjustably fixed thereto by means of a pairof nuts 31 on opposite sides of the flange 35. The anchor block 3S isfixed to the web of the pulley 5 by means of bolts 38., The block 36also able elements to break apart after engagement, as they might do incase the pawl 62 were rigidly fixed to the disk 51. In such case, theshaft 6 would be started with the interengageable elements barelyoverlapping so that there would be Ia strong tendency for the elementsto break apart several times before they became securely interengaged.

` The mechanical advantage between the `planet member 55 and the shaft 6reduces the operating pressure between the interengageable `elements60,59, thusminimizing the friction between the elements, therebyreducing wear and also making the governor more sensitive to changes inspeed.

The shaft 6 can be manually disconnected from the drive pulley 5 byshifting the fork 52 toward the left as Viewed in Figure 2, against theaction of the spring 5|, to separate the jaws 4l, 48. This permits thegear 45 to rotate idly on the shaft 6 so that power transmission isinterrupted. l

Attention is called to the fact that the spring 51 provides a certainamount of cushioning actionwhen the elements 60, 69 interengage, for theimmediate effect of the interengagement is tov cause the pawl 62 toswing outwardly against the tension of the spring 61.

I claim:

1. In a power transmitting connection, the combination of a rotarydriving member, a rotary driven member, an arm pivotally connected toone of said members and having a weighted portion ada-pted tol moveoutwardly under the action of centrifugal force, a spring opposing saidoutward movement, a planet member rotatably mounted on said one member,drive means connecting said planet member to the other of said membersfor rotating said planet member by relative movement between saiddriving and drivenfmembers, and a pair of interengageable elements onsaid arm and on said planet member, respectively, adapted to be engagedor dis engaged by movement of said arm about its pivot connectionresponsive to a change in speed of said members, at least one of saidelements being movable relative to its support and having a lost motionconnection thereto so arranged and constructed that upon engagement ofthe edges of said elements by movement of said arm the initialtransmission of driving force acts to move said one element through therange of its lost motion connection into more secure engagement with theother of said elements.

2. In a power transmitting connection, the combination of a rotarydriving member, a rotary driven member, an larm pivotally connected tosaid driving member and having a weighted portion adapted to moveoutwardly under the action of centrifugal force, a spring opposing saidoutward movement, a planet member rotatably mounted on said drivingmember, drive means connecting said planet member to said driven memberfor rotating said planet member by relative rotation between saiddriving and driven members, and a pair of interengageable elements onsaid arm and on said planet member, respectively, said elements beingheld in engagement by said weighted portion tending to move outwardly,and disengaged by action of said spring when the speed of said membersdecreases below a certain amount, one oi said elements being movablymounted on said planet member and having a lost motion connectionthereto so arranged and constructed that upon engagement of the edges ofsaid elements by movement of said arm the initial transmission ofdriving force acts to move said one element through the rang-e of itslost motion connection into more secure engagement with the other ofsaid elements.

3. In a power transmitting connection, the combination of a rotarydriving member, a rotary driven member, an arm pivotally connected tosaid driving member and having a weighted portion adapted to moveoutwardly under the action of centrifugal force, a spring opposing saidoutward movement, a planet member rotatably mountedon said drivingmember, drive means connecting said planet member to said kdriven memberfor rotating said planet member by relative rotation between saiddriving and driven members, and a pair of interengageable elements onsaid arm and on said planet member, respectively, said elements beingheld in engagement by said weighted portion tending to move outwardly,and disengaged by action of said spring when the speed of said membersdecreases below a certain amount, one of said elements being movablymounted on said planet member by means providing for limited amount ofmotion toward and away from a position of engagement with said elementon said arm, and spring means for urging said one element towardretracted position, whereby upon disengagement of said elements bymovement of said arm said one element is retracted to preventimmediatereengagement.

4. In a power transmitting connection, the combination of a rotarydriving member, a rotary driven member, an arm pivotally connected tosaid driving member and having a weighted portion adapted to moveoutwardly under theaction of centrifugal force, a spring opposing saidoutward movement, a planet member rotatably mounted on said drivingmember, drive means connecting said planet member to said driven memberfor rotating said planet memb-er by relative rotation between saiddriving and driven members, and a pair of interengageable elements onsai-d arm and on said planet member, respectively, said elements beingheld in engagement by said weighted portion tending to move outwardly,and disengaged by action of said spring when the speed of said membersdecreases below a certain amount, one of said elements being pivotallymounted on said planet member in oifset relation to the axis of rotationof the latter and swingable toward and away from said axis but biasedfor movement toward the latter, and stop means for limiting the extentof outward movement, whereby upon engagement of said elements bymovement of said arm outwardly to a position corresponding to a certainspeed of rotation, said one element is moved outwardly by the drivingforce acting through said elements, into abutment with said stop means,thereby effecting immediately a secure driving connection between theelements.

5. In a power transmitting connection, the combination of a pair ofcoaxially disposed rotary driving and driven members, an arm pivotallyconnected to said driving member and having a weighted portion adaptedto move outwardly under the action of centrifugal force, a springopposing said outward movement, a planet member rotatably mounted onsaid driving member on an axis spaced from the pivot axis of said arm, apair of intermeshing gears, one of said gears being xed to said drivenmember coaxially therewith and the other gear being fixed to said planeteasegseer member coaxially therewitl'rpandia pair ofintergA engageableelementsassociated. withisaid'arnrrands. said iplanet member;respectiv.ely,ff said a elementsf; being out of engagement:whenzsaidxarmzis intra;`

tracteduposition, .therebypermittingrrea. rota- A 5 tion of.said drivingmemberwith'novpower transmittedto said drivenim'emben-said-elements bee"ing engaged responsiveLtogoutwardtmovement' or?.` said arm undertheactionaofz,centrifugalzforcee when. said driving Imember; reaches.'aapredeter# minedV speed,l for connecting-1zsaid Ldrivingg'and, driven'members'htogetherfto rotate La i 6. In. a. power transmittingconnection.the' combination cfa pairioffcoaxially disposetirotary',Adriving and drivenl members', anr-arnr .pivotally connected to saidv'driving 'memberand having a weighted portion adapted tonfroveoutwardly un-v der. theiacton oi centrifugal forcewaspring'opposing saidoutward movement, a planet member rotatablyA mounted on'v said driving:member'on ani axis spaced fromthe pivot aXisof; said armVazpair4 oi'intermeshing gears; one y oisaidzlgears being xed to said drivenmember'coaxially. therewith. and the other gear being fxed 'to'zsaidfplanetzmember coaxially therewith, andazpairt'of inter:- engageable .elementslmounted on t. saidtarm'f and said planet member;Y respectivelyfsaidelements. being out of vengagementwhensaid arm;is :in reA tracted 'iposition, .th'ereby permitting.` free. `rota tioniof said Vdrivingmemberwithz no powertransfmitted to said .'drivenfm'ember', said:elements-bee ing engaged responsive to outward movement' of 'said'farmi under the faction'.` of centrifugaliorce whenl said drivingjmember .reaches a predeterminedr speed,y for connectingfsaid.drivingffand'z driven memberstogether to rotate Yas a:unit,lsaid`element on :said planet member;being mounted! for a limited amount ofmovement :toward: and*A away vromza positionvofsengagement Withthefother of said elements andzsdarranged-andCona structedlthat uponengagement of. .theedgesJof said elements the` initialitransmissiomorfdrivingg forcezacts -to move .saidlplanetrmountedeelemente into; more 1 secure engagement: with said'.totherl:l e1ement; and; springiimeans. fbiasingesaidaplamet: mounted:element toward i Areimacted upositionf..

7.-Iri :a lpower t transmitting: connection;Y the@ combination of. a.rotary driving member;A airotary; driven member, an arm pivotallyconnectedtoay said: driving i member; a .weight on? saideann-l4 yforswinging :said arm `outwardly-iyundertheaction10b: centriiugalforce;means mountingr-theiweightione. the farm.y .forradjustmenti of thefweight: alongjheif arnrrtoward and=awayffromfthe pivot,v means :for:securing said weightvin:adjustedlpositiom aspringz opposingsaidioutwardfmovement, aiplanet member rotatably '.mountedon: saiddrivingy member-f drive-1meanseconnecting-,said planet f member4 im saiddriven member for rotatingfsaid p1anet-mem= ber" by relative rotationbetween:saiddrivingandl driven-rnembers, andea pair oi.yinterengageable. elements on said arm and on said planeta-mem# ber;respectively, serving as the'fsole connection between' said members,said `elements being-:helm ink engagement: by saidyWeightedportionitendingf; tofmove foutward1y',-'anddisengaged byvaction .off said-'spring twhen t the-speedf. offsaid.membersrdesvcreases below a certain;amountr;thereby,inten#- rupting thetransmission of power betweenfsaid members;

HENRY E. KORUMVY.,

REFERENCES: CITED The following Vreferences. are .z ot record inzthe:1eof this patent.:

UNITED STATES 'l PATENTS A Number Name. Date.:

642,936. Thompson .Feb.l 6,.'1900? 1,712,512 Morici ,Mayr 14,l 1929..1.728.325. Blackstock ...Sept.,1'7,1929

